Fewer residents being restrained, but more are taking anxiety drugs, report finds

The use of physical restraints on nursing home residents dropped during the past decade. But anxiety-drug use rose during the same period, an industry-backed report finds. The percentage of residents who were physically restrained fell from 9.3% in 2000 to 3.1% by 2009, according to the second annual Quality Report. Meanwhile, the prevalence of anti-anxiety and hypnotic drug use increased from 17% to 23.1%. The report is a joint effort by the American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care.